South Africa’s Durban city to rally against xenophobia

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South Africa is set to hold a huge protest march against xenophobia in the coastal city of Durban following a wave of attacks on foreigners.

Organisers said about 10,000 people were expected, in the city’s biggest show of solidarity with foreigners.

At least five people have been killed and foreign-owned shops looted in attacks since last week.

The influential Zulu king has been accused of fuelling the violence – charges he denies.

Locals accuse foreigners of taking their jobs in a country where the official unemployment rate is 24%.

Tens of thousands of foreigners, mostly from other African states and Asia, have moved to South Africa since white-minority rule ended in 1994.

At least 62 people died in xenophobic attacks that swept South Africa in 2008.